In Pursuit of the Rare

Actor Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor gets candid about the obsession that drives him: an insatiable need to collect the most coveted pieces in fashion.

- SALONI DHRUV

ON THIS THURSDAY EVENING IN MAY, Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor appears fatigued, grappling with grief over his grandmother's passing and recovering from a bout of flu. Yet, when discussing his latest acquisition, a pair of orange denim by Gallery Dept.'s La Flare with custom detailing by Chrome Hearts that cost him US$15,000—₹13 lakh—Kapoor sits upright, animated. He models the jeans, while the golden 6pm light from his Carter Road apartment in Mumbai casts a glow on a repurposed Goyard sling bag and a vintage Louis Vuitton duffle bag, stuffed with more Chrome Hearts denims.

For most, a pair of jeans is just that. For Kapoor, it's a chapter in a longer story, one that often veers into obsession. “I went through so much patience and perseverance to get this pair,” he says about the orange jeans. Getting your hands on a customised pair of denims from Chrome Hearts isn’t easy. (Kapoor's current count is five.) One way is to be a long-time customer with a strong store account; they'll allocate a pair when your size arrives. The second is the aftermarket, where prices can double or triple. The third—and the rarest—is through someone with a VIP account, usually friends and family or big spenders. “Luckily, I know someone who knows someone with a VIP account, which allows for custom pieces.” But he’s tight-lipped about divulging further. “It’s like a Rolex or a Birkin; once people know, everyone starts asking. I'd rather not throw my friend under the bus.”

CLOSET HOLY GRAILS

To many, Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor is the son of star actor Anil Kapoor, and brother of fashion icon Sonam Kapoor and stylist-producer Rhea Kapoor. To film buffs, he’s an indie actor known for roles in films like Thar, Ray, Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, AK vs AK and Mirzya. To sneaker enthusiasts, he’s a connoisseur. But the 34-year-old considers himself a curator: of film and television (his CD collection ranges from